A PROSPECTIVE TRIAL OF SELF-EXPANDING METAL-COATED STENTS IN THE PALLIATION OF MALIGNANT DYSPHAGIA

OBJECTIVE: to analize the use of self-expanding metal coated esophagea l stents a palliative therapy of malignant dysphagia. METHOD: we perfo rmed a one year prospective study placing 12 stents in 10 patients wit h malignant dysphagia. RESULTS: the insertion mean time was lower than 25 min, and most of our patients (70%) reported a good tolerance. Dys phagia score improved inmediately and it lasted until death with no oc clusions. Complications appeared early, 17% at the time of placement, with one patient having a life-threatening complication. The probabili ty for these patients not to develop any complications after the three first weeks will be about 60%. CONCLUSIONS: self-expanding metal coat ed esophageal stents provide a fast and lasting relief in malignant dy sphagia, with a good tolerance.